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A humorous quote attributed to Freud says that before accepting a diagnosis of depression, you need to make sure that the person is not surrounded by idiots. It was not possible to confirm whether the father of psychoanalysis is the author of this maxim. But the fact is that when it comes to women’s mental health, including depression, is twice as common when compared to men. Before diagnosing depression, it is the doctor who should make sure that the symptoms described by the patient are, in fact, of a psychic nature. @ Women’s Mental Health

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to rule out the presence of some diseases that leads to the manifestation of similar symptoms. The use of substances subject to abuse, as well as a possible simulation for legal purposes, among other factors.

Mental illness is a condition that leads to the limitation of functional capabilities. For the patient, there is a restriction of having feeling and well-being. And this impairs their working performance as a whole and, moreover, affects their social and family relationships, as it fails to mature. What the person experiences is a difficult to enjoy life in general. @ Women’s Mental Health

From the biological point of view, women are more vulnerable. Why? Cause it is under the effects of hormonal fluctuations that occur at menarche, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. But this can not be considered an exclusive factor. The genetic heritage is relevant. Children of a parent who has mental illness will have a greater chance of presenting the problem. If the father and mother have depression, the risk increases even more.

Thus, the hormone factor is one of organic elements, as well as genetic, but environmental and social issues influence the condition. Women with less education are more vulnerable because they have less quality of life (including food and working conditions outside and at home), and still have little access to treatment and early diagnosis.

For her is easier ask for help because, apparently, the women admit suffering more easily than men. And it is faced in a more painful way, which leads her to recognize the problem and accept help. While men tend to resist more, they have a reduced perception of the damage that mental illness brings to life itself. This behavior in the medium and long term, lead to serious damage that could have been avoided if admitted. For example, depression or alcohol dependence. Added to this the fact that women are most in demand for assistance in any medical specialty. There is a macho culture that the search for support is a type of unacceptable weakness in the male ward. Fortunately, this is changing. @ Women’s Mental Health

What are the most common causes?

They are psychic and emotional. Before concluding a diagnosis, however, the expert must rule out any physical illness. Anemia has as manifestations sadness, discouragement, lack of energy. These signs seem to depression, but the origin is anemia. Hyperthyroidism will cause anxiety, insomnia, physical discomfort.

The use of substances such as medicine (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone) and drug abuse (alcohol, marijuana) too. And it may be that the malaise relates to personal, family or professional context, which leads us to the causes related. Add to that list a possible suggestibility of patients living with a psychotic person (folie a deux – “madness shared by two” in French, is a very rare psychiatric syndrome in which a psychosis symptom is transmitted from one individual to another), as well the simulation of the disease to get legal advantages. Discarded these possibilities, we will seek the causes. And they are multi-factorial: genetic, environmental (family and work) and even the weather.

The person experiences a set of psychological difficulties, emotional and relationship, but the conversation with the friend or spiritual leader does not relieve the emotional distress. The person realizes that is difficult to solve problems at work and to meet the family’s needs and your relationships. Finally, the right time to ask for help is always there is doubt and difficulty experiencing well-being, and when overcoming attempts have not led to a significant improvement.

Are severe cases when outpatient care, which excludes hospitalization, do not lead to an improvement. But in the last two decades the medicines options have improved their efficiency. Thus, the use of medicines, in addition to psychotherapy, brings more rapid and lasting results. Thus, gravity will be established from the need of intensive care, ie, weekly returns to the clinic or hospital.

Can you prevent mental illness? @ Women’s Mental Health

Yes, you can, by means of what is called secondary prevention. There are two types of prevention: primary, one that makes an assessment before the onset of the disease – a mammogram to identify breast cancer, for example. And the secondary, which does not perform tests, but stems from the enlightenment of the people on certain psychic pathology. This includes professionals of all levels, which should be ready to detect this type of symptom, in any assessment. In this case, what happens is an active search of the disease, although the reason for consultation has another goal. Secondary prevention is a way to anticipate a diagnosis by means of information – for the patient and the doctor. Both feel encouraged to look for corresponding signals, same as the query does not have this purpose.